Pacific Classic Highlights $7.825-Million Del Mar Stakes Program

Thursday, February 27, 2025 | 11:34 am

The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club kicked off it's annual summer season Friday, July 15, 2016 to the delight of thousands of fans and visitors. The seaside track in Del Mar, CA races Wednesday through Sunday through and including Labor Day Monday, Sept. 5, 2016. Accelerant and jockey Santiago Gonzalez (second from left) won the first race of the meet and returned $17.80 to his backers. ©Benoit Photo

The $1-million GI Pacific Classic will highlight the $7.825-million stakes schedule for the upcoming Del Mar summer meet. The track's signature race will be held on an Aug. 30 card which includes more than $2 million in purses and a pair of Grade II races–the $300,000 Del Mar Handicap and the $300,000 Del Mar Mile.

In addition to the Pacific Classic, the track will host five other Grade I races during the meet, which runs from July 18 through Sept. 7. Leading off the top-level races is the $400,000 GI Bing Crosby Stakes July 26, followed by the $400,000 GI Clement L. Hirsch Stakes Aug. 2; the $300,000 GI Del Mar Oaks Aug. 16; the $300,000 GI Del Mar Debutante Sept. 6; and concluding with the $300,000 GI Del Mar Futurity Sept. 7.

The meet will also host nine Grade II races and six Grade III stakes. Nineteeen of the 38 stakes races, which include five overnight stakes, will be contested on the turf, and eight of the stakes will be for California-breds, offering a total of $1 million in purses. Additionally, the five overnight stakes each will carry a purse of $100,000.

“Our stakes schedule is a very compelling program with something for everyone,” said Del Mar vice president and racing secretary David Jerkens. “The initial feedback from our owners and trainers has been very encouraging. We can't wait to get started.”